Stocks Stay Mixed; McDonald's Leads Dow

The Nasdaq was up less than 0.1%, while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.3% and 0.2% respectively.

Volume was up on both major exchanges vs. Friday's below-average trade.

Blue chips were mostly down with McDonald's (MCD) showing the best gain in the Dow, up 1% in heavy volume. The stock is working on a first-stage base with a potential buy point at 96.42.

A first- or second-stage base is more likely to work than later consolidations.

McDonald's fundamentals aren't top-notch but they are above average. The EPS Rating is 74, which means it is growing earnings faster than three of every four stocks in the market.

Casino operator Las Vegas Sands (LVS) popped 2% higher in volume that was about three times stronger than usual. RBC Capital Markets reported a strong gain in February for Macau-related gaming revenue. Sands has a big footprint in the special administrative region of China.

On the downside, apparel designer and marketer Michael Kors (KORS) slid 1% in fast trade. The stock is 9% off its recent high. The company recently announced its third secondary offering in less than a year.

Investment money manager Goldman Sachs (GS) lost almost 2% in brisk trade. The company's ex dividend date is Tuesday, which the dividend will be paid to owners of shares at today's close.

Among commodities, gold was up about 1%, silver 2% and natural gas 3%. Crude oil and copper rose modestly.

Economic news was thin Monday, but the election in Italy was creating some worries. Market watchers fear the results in Italy could make budget changes in Italy difficult.

The Nasdaq was up less than 0.1%, while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.3% and 0.2% respectively.

Volume was up on both major exchanges vs. Friday's below-average trade.

Blue chips were mostly down with McDonald's (MCD) showing the best gain in the Dow, up 1% in heavy volume. The stock is working on a first-stage base with a potential buy point at 96.42.

A first- or second-stage base is more likely to work than later consolidations.

McDonald's fundamentals aren't top-notch but they are above average. The EPS Rating is 74, which means it is growing earnings faster than three of every four stocks in the market.

Casino operator Las Vegas Sands (LVS) popped 2% higher in volume that was about three times stronger than usual. RBC Capital Markets reported a strong gain in February for Macau-related gaming revenue. Sands has a big footprint in the special administrative region of China.

On the downside, apparel designer and marketer Michael Kors (KORS) slid 1% in fast trade. The stock is 9% off its recent high. The company recently announced its third secondary offering in less than a year.

Investment money manager Goldman Sachs (GS) lost almost 2% in brisk trade. The company's ex dividend date is Tuesday, which the dividend will be paid to owners of shares at today's close.

Among commodities, gold was up about 1%, silver 2% and natural gas 3%. Crude oil and copper rose modestly.

Economic news was thin Monday, but the election in Italy was creating some worries. Market watchers fear the results in Italy could make budget changes in Italy difficult.

See Also

Monthly gross gaming revenue in the Chinese territory tumbled 48.6% in Feb. to 19.5 bil patacas or $2.4 bil, down from 38 bil patacas a year ago, amid China's ongoing anti-corruption campaign and the effects of an economic slowdown. But the Lunar New Year falling on Feb. 19 this year also ...

Macau's gambling revenue tumbled almost 49% as China's anti-corruption campaign continued and high rollers took their money elsewhere in February. But the timing of the Lunar New Year also impacted results, says one analyst. Monthly gross revenue sank 48.6% to 19.5 billion patacas, or $2.4 billion, ...

Some of the nation's big-bank executives could be feeling anxious this week about the release of the Federal Reserve's stress tests, scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Perhaps most under the microscope is Citigroup (NYSE:C), which failed last year's Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review, an ...

McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) shares made a value-sized move on Wednesday, jumping 4% to hit a seven-month high. The burger chain's stock was able to retake the 200-day line, an area where the stock had been hitting resistance in recent weeks. It was a tasty day for other restaurant stocks too: April 2014 ...

02/25/2015 06:41 PM ET

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